BLACKMAN TWP, Mich. — A flyer opposing Northwest Community Schools' upcoming bond vote has been showing up in district residents' mailboxes for a couple of weeks.
The problem is, it's being placed inside those mailboxes without valid paid postage — a violation of federal law.
The Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety has placed a warning on its Facebook page. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office also has investigated and notified the U.S. Postal Service, Undersheriff Chris Kuhl said.
One of those flyers landed inside the mailbox of Kelly Grygiel, a Northwest graduate and parent of current students who's working on the committee to educate voters about the proposal on the Tuesday, May 8 ballot.
Besides the fact that the anonymous flyer was placed in her mailbox illegally, Grygiel said it is full of false information.
"I'm disgusted with the inaccuracy of it," Grygiel said. "If you legitimately want to vote no, then give the correct information and let people make their own opinions. This inaccuracy is just not fair. In every paragraph there's nothing really accurate."
The first inaccuracy, Grygiel said, is in the first paragraph, which reads, "Geoff Bontrager, superintendent of Northwest Schools, is telling you, the taxpaying property owner, to fork up another $36 million for unneeded improvements."
The bond issue is $24.9 million, according to the ballot proposal.
The 1.9-mills would last 25 years and cover costs for classroom additions at all schools, districtwide parking lot and site improvements, a high school band/choir theater classroom addition, a high school information technology/manufacturing/commons remodel and secondary complex athletic facility improvements.
The second paragraph of the flyer claims artificial turf would be placed on the district's soccer fields, while information provided by the district states the soccer field will remain grass.
The flyer also states no needs or reasons for these improvements have been given, something Grygiel enthusiastically disputes.
"We have reached out with several community meetings and, for those who couldn't make them, we've broadcast them over Facebook Live and made the videos available," she said.
The flyer also states that $12 million will be paid in interest over the life of the bonds. The actual interest rate is not determined until bonds are sold if the proposal passes.
Grygiel also takes issue with language on the flyer that personally attacks Bontrager and has nothing to do with school district needs.
"Shame on whoever is doing this," Grygiel said. "They are not personally coming forward and asking questions. They are just misinforming people -- and doing it anonymously -- and that is wrong."
Those with questions or concerns about the bond proposal should reach out to members of the bond committee for accurate information, Grygiel said. Information also is available on the Northwest bond website.
